Reduction of Second-Order Temperature Dependence of Athermal AWG With Resin-Filled Groove by Pressure Control

• Published in: IEEE photonics technology letters Vol. 21; no. 19; pp. 1426 - 1428
• Main Authors: Terui, H., Shibazaki, T., Ebisawa, F., Okuno, M., Jinnouchi, Y., Kamei, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.10.2009; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Arrayed waveguide gratings; Arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG); athermal; Gratings (spectra); Grooves; Optical fibers; Optical paths; optical planar waveguide components; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Passband; Photonics; planar lightwave circuit; Pressure control; Reduction; Refractive index; Resins; Spectra; Stability; Temperature dependence; Wavelengths
• ISSN: 1041-1135; 1941-0174
• DOI: 10.1109/LPT.2009.2028085

In this letter, we have developed a novel technique for improving the temperature stability of an athermal silica-based arrayed-waveguide grating with a resin-filled groove. We compensated for the residual second-order temperature dependence of the passband wavelength using the pressure-induced refractive index change in a resin inserted into the optical paths. Pressure control under the temperature variation was achieved by using a structure composed of an optical fiber piston and bimetal actuators. We demonstrated that the passband wavelength variation was successfully reduced from 0.080 to 0.025 nm in a -40degC - 85degC temperature range, without any insertion loss increase or spectral change.